Sewing machine



Jan. 12,1926. 1568.956

J. M. MERROW SEWING MACHINE Filed Dec. 17. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [raven/tor:

fisepiiv jtlefryw fly v7 Hi6 Attorneys.

Jan. 12 1926. 1,568,986 I J. M. MERROW SEWING MACHINE.

Filed Dec. 17, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 In new tar:

cfasep/z/ .Merrouk 6'7 62 54 65 H5 Attorneys.

Patented Jan. 12, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JOSEPH M. MERROW, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNGR TO THE MERROW MACHINE COMPANY, OF HARTFGRD, C(JHNECIICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTI- OUT.

SEWING Application filed December To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrri M. Murrow, a citizen of the United States, residing in Hartford, county of Hartford, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sewing Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the characters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to sewing machines and particularly to sewing machines adapt ed for use in the manufacture of hosiery and similar goods. In machines of this type pro vision is commonly made of devices whereby the trimming of fabric comprising the work may be effected simultaneously with the application thereto of stitches formed by the stitching elements. Also an edge guide is commonly provided which may be employed to definitely direct the fabric as it is advanced to the stitching elements by suitable feed mechanism. In producing the results for which the present invention is primarily intended, the trimming devices and edge guide are alternatively employed. Each means is instrumental in determining the width of margin enclosed by the stitching, or that characteristic which may be more conveniently referred to as depth of stitch. The stitch depth ordinarily desired to be established by the edge guide is less than the stitch depth suitably established by the trinuning devices, therefore when the edge guide is in use the trimming devices are rendered ineffective without changing their effective position,in other words regulation of the stitch depth to make it suitable for either. the trimmed or untrimmed material is secured by simply moving the edge guide from a non-effective to an effective position and vice versa, and to permit such movement of the edge guide it is shiftably mounted. F or certain work appearance and utility, of stitching varied in depth as already set forth, may be furtherenhanced by varying the spacing or length of the stitches. This spacing referred to is effected by feed mechanism and is controlled by adjustment of parts associated therewith whereby the stitches may be differently separated to give that quality which may vary MACHINE.

17, 1923. stir-m1 No. 681,254.

in degree as expressed by the terms coarse and fine.

The object of my invention is the provision in an overseaming machine of means interposed between feeding mechanism and means for acting upon an edge 01' superposed edges of material whereby stitches applied to said edge or edges may be produced in various combinations of difierent length and depth. For this purpose my invention consists in the simple and eflicient means included in the one form of embodiment of the invention chosen for illustration in the accompanying drawings and fully set forth in the following detailed description. The novelty of the invention is defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1, is a front view of a sewing machine embodying mechanism comprising my invention.

Figure 2, is a view of the machine as seen from the left in Fig. 1.

Figure 3, is a plan view partly in section of mechanism including parts particularly related to my invention, portions only of certain parts being shown.

Figure 4, is a detailed View of feed mechanism and associated parts.

Figure 5, is a detail sectional view 011 line 5-5 of Fig. 4..

Figure 6, is a detail sectional View on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Figure 7, is a view of parts of the feed mechanism as seen from the right in Fig. 2, certain parts being in section substantially on line 77 of Fig. 2.

Figure 8, is a sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig.2, and

Figure 9, is a detail view partly in section.

Referring to the drawings, characteristic features of an overseaming machine of the Merrow type (see U. S. Patent No. 783,760) which is particularly adapted to embody my invention, Will be sufliciently identified through brief mention of certain of the parts as follows. The stitching instrumentalities comprise the curved eye pointed needle 1, upper looper 2, and lower looper 3. The needle receives its motion through the link 4, which connects the needle carrier 5, with an eccentric projection'or stud 6, at the end of shaft 7. By mechanism (not shown) associated with upper shaft 7, and lower shaft 8, the looper 2, is-actuated toreciprocate and oscillate so that it passes in a curved path extending above and below the needle plate around one edge thereof, and looper 3, is reciprocated below the needle plate. The needle moves to cooperate with the lower looper below the needle plate, and with the upper looper above the needle plate,

and the loopers, belowtheneedl'e plate,'move" to cooperate with each other in a well known manner to form overedge stitching.

The tensions, take-ups and thread guides illustrated, serve their usual purpose in a manner that will be readily understood by those familiar with the sewing machine art,this is also true of 'thepresserfoot and presserfoot mechanism.

The feed mechanism with which my inventionis directly involved will now be described. The" feed dog 10, which is secured to the carrierll, is actuated in the movements characteristic of'a four motion feed, by eccentrics 12 and 13, secured to the lower shaft 8, adjacent to one end of the machine frame 14. To permit the effect of the eccentrics to be transmitted through the carrier, the latter is mounted for sliding and pivotal motion in a guideway 15, in bracket 16, where it is supportedon a pin 17, extending through a block 18,, flattened to enthe elongated slot 19, near the rear end of the carrier. By virtue of this manner'of supporting the carrier, it may, through parts to be described, be oscillated by eccentric 12, and reciprocated by the eccentric 13, to produce the required movement of the feed dog. The effect of eccentric 12, is transmitted through a rectangular block20, embraced by a bearing opening 21, in the carrier. The effect of eccentric 13, is transmitted through link 22, rocker n3, link 24 and rocker 25, the latter being connected'to carrier 11, as by a pivotal joint 26. The rocker 23, is pivoted on a stud 27 whichis secured in a support 28, held to the base of the machine frame by screws, as 29. Studs 30 and 31, at opposite ends of rocker23, respectively engage link 22 and link 24, and a hollow stud 32, connects link 24 with the rocker 25, said stud being held in a split socket at the end of the rocker by clamping screw 33.

While it will be obvious that the range of movement imparted'by eccentric 13, to link 22, rocker 23, and link 24,-is uniform, attention is now directed particularly to the means associated with the rocker 25, whereby its movement may be made to impart different degrees of movement to the feed carrier. The means employed include a movable fulcrum for rocker 25. Such a fulcrum may comprise a pivot 34, forming part of a slide block 35, which is fitted to a dovetail groove 36, in the rocker (see Figs.

4 and 5). This fulcrum is movable toward and from a point where its axis substantially coincides with the axis of the pivotal joint between the rocker 25 and feed dog carrier 11. When the axes mentioned nearly coincide thefeeding movement imparted .to the feed carrier is very slight and it follows that when the fulcrum axis is most remote from that of the pivotal joint be tween therockerand carrier the maximum feeding movement will be imparted to the feed carrier. Moving the fulcrum to either extreme or any intermediate position may beefi ected'by a lever 38, the arm 39, of which at'its'outer end supports pivot 34. Lever 38, is mounted on a stationary shaft 40, held atone end in support 28, as by a set screw 41, while at theother end it is additionally supported by a plate 42, secured to the machine frame by screws 43. It will be noted that'the hub of'lever 38, is suificiently elongated to bring the arm 44, to a position whereit may be operated by hand or connected through interposed parts in operative relation with an adjustable edge guide hereinafter described. For limiting movement of the feed changing lever,'ad-' justable stop means are employed comprising the screws 46 and 47, engageable by a lug or wing 48, depending from the hub of thelever between walls of an opening 49, in support 28, into which latter the stop screws are threaded with their slotted ends conveniently accessible for engagement by a screw driver. Means including a spring are employed for moving the lever in a direction opposite to that in which it is intended to be moved by arm 44, or in the direction to engage lug 48 with stop screw 46, in which position the described parts transmit to the feed dogthemaximum movement of the range permitted by the settingof the stop screws, from which it follows that pressure applied through lever 44 serves to decrease the length of'stitch, the limit of the range in this respect being established either when the lug 48 engages stop screw 47, as when-the lever 44 is actuated by hand independently of the edge guide'devices to be described, or by stop means included in the edge guide mechanism as will more fully appear.

A device adapted for guiding material to be stitched and movable to positions respectively effective and noneffective for this purpose, may, as shown, include an arm 59, secured as by a set screw 51, to one end of a shaft 52, which is supported in a bearing 53, held on a suitable part of the machine frame as by screws54. permitsarm 50, (see Fig. 3) to be swung from the position in which it is shown in full lines to the position indicated by dotted lines. In the former position the inwardly turned end of the arm extends over the This arrangement needle plate adjacent the presserfoot so that the shoe 55, or guide proper, is effective to direct material in a definite relation to the stitching elements, that is to say, the guide is in a position to determine the depth of stitch applied to material passing the guide in contact therewith. The depth of the stitch thus determined may be varied by adjustment of the edge guide with respect to the arm, provision for such adjustment being made by elongating the slot through which passes the screw securing the guide to the arm. As already stated, when the edge guideis not in position to direct material to the stitching elements, devices become effective for trimming the material simultaneously with the application of stitching thereto, the depth of the stitching during this relation of parts being determined by the position of the trimming cutters relative to the stitching elements. In the present case the trimming mechanism involved includes the movable and statio11- ary cutters 56 and 57, respectively (see Fig. Ordinarily the edge guide is used when the material to be stitched presents a folded edge or edges, where a lesser depth of stitch is required than where an edge or edges of trimmed fabric are to be secured, the depth of stitch, however, might advantageously be the same in each case and trimmers or edge guide employed according to the char acter of the edge to be stitched, that is to say, trimmed or untrimmed.

From the foregoing statements it will be clear that,-(1) the feed mechanism determines the length of stitch,(2) the depth of stitch is determined either by the trimming cutters or the edge guide,(3) the length of stitch may be varied by means associated with the feed mechanism and under control of lever 44,it follows that if the length of stitch may be advantageously varied according to a difference in character of the edge or edges to be stitched or according to different depths of stitching as established respectively by the trimming cutters and edge guide, the desired change may be effected through suitable means whereby movement of the edge guide may be transmitted to actuate the feed changing lever tt. Such means, as illustrated, in clude an arm 60, secured to shaft 52, at that end of bearing 53, which is opposite to arm 50. In the free end of this arm is a pivotal stud 61, provided with an eye 62, to loosely receive a rod 63, the latter being threaded at 6st, to receive a sleeve nut 65, which may be secured in desired adjustment by set screw 66, for a purpose that will presently appear. To the other end of rod 63, is secured a socket member 67, adapted to engage a ball stud G8, at one end of the angle lever 70, which is supported on a stud 71, and provided at its other end with a ball stud 72, to receive socket member 78, at the end of rod 74, which latter passes freely through an eye 75, in the feed chang-- ing lever 44, already described. The ball joints,'it will be clearly understood, are introduced into the mechanism interposed between the movable guide support or arm 50, and the feed changing lever ea, to accommodate such non-alignment of the parts as is effected by their respective movement in transmitting adjustment desired, such nonalignment being also accommodated by a suitable amount of looseness or play of rod 63, in eye 62, and rod 74, in eye 75. As previously intimated the lever 44,- is movable to the position in which it is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or that limit of its range of movement established by a set screw 46, by spring actuated means. Such means include the plunger 77', and spring 78, placed in a bore '79, in support 28, with the plunger yieldingly engaging the lug 48, of lever 38. The stem 80,.of plunger 77, is guided in a hollow screw 82, threaded into the outer end of bore 79, and provided with a knurled head 83, whereby it may be adjusted to vary the tension of the spring as may be required.

In Fig. 3, the movable support 50, is shown in full lines in a position Where the edge guide is effective to direct material to the stitching elements, while the dotted lines indicate the position to which the support is moved to render the trimming device effective and through said movement to impart adjustment to the feed changing lever, said adjustment being opposed to the pressure of spring 7 8, by virtue of which, through intermediate parts, arm 60, in the dotted line position, is held against the machine frame which serves as a limiting stop on that side of a dead center line over which the crank pin or stud (31., has been moved. The amount of adjustment thus imparted to the feed changing lever, may be varied by adjusting sleeve nut 65, to leave more or less space between it and stud G1, to thereby vary the range through which movement ofthe edge guide support is effective to move said feed changing lever. ,Vhile lever 44, engages rod 74, and is operable by a shoulder thereon when said rod is moved by parts associated with the edge guide support, it will be apparent that it is also operable independently of said rod and parts, such provision being made so that if desirable the feed may be changed without shifting the edge guide from its position, adjacent to the stitching elements, in which event the screw 47, before referred to may be used as a limiting stop.

It will be noted that the support 28, and the machine frame are recessed at 84, to provide clearance for the end of rocker 23, where it is pivoted to link 24-, the latter however, between its ends, makes contact laterallywithf surfaces 85 andf86, respec tively' on supportQS and platetQQ'so that the bearing thus provided tends to -maintain the 1 link: in parallelism" with 1 associated? parts which are similarly maintained :by their respective lateral contactwith eachuother'and opposed surfaces 8 8 and i89,-"respectively of bearing 28"and the endlof the. machine:

frame by virtue of whichan 'influence is exerted whereby efficient action of the parts and their increased resistance to wear is. as-- sured:

In the manufacture of tubular web stock-i ings a method of 'finishing is commonly employed which consists 1 in fashioning.- the lower partof the leg of a stocking by cutting" out a portioniof the web,= securing. the cut edgeswith overedge stitching. and continuing the stitchingbeyond the i cut portion to forma-mock: seanrin simulation of a real seam. F or this work an overseaming:

machine I provided with trimming mechanism and means for varyingthe stitching.

in the manner herein described; is particularlywell: adapted.

Having thus described my linvention, what a I claim 'is,

1. In a sewing machine, in combination, feed IIlBChiLIllSITl' includingia feed dog, a

feed changing device: associated withthefeed mechanism and adjustable to varv the range of movement impartedto the feed:

dog, a device'operable upon an edge. or superposed edges of material .and ad ustable 'to vary. its relation to the stitching. eie-' ments, and means vinterposed .between'said deviceand the feed changing device whereby adjustment of one of them will impart an adjustmentto theotherr 2. In a sewing machine, incombination,

feed mechanism including a feed'zdog, afeed changing device associated with' 'the feed mechanism and adjustable to vary the-range of movement imparted to the feed dog, a

device operable upon an edge or superposed edges of material and ad ustable to vary its relation to the stitching/elements, meansin terposed between said device and the feed changing device whereby ad ustment of oneof them will impart an adjustment to the;

other,-and means whereby the amount of ad ustment thus imparted may be varied.

In a sewing machine, in combination,

feed mechanism including a feed dog, afeed *changing deviceassociated withthe feed mechanism and adjustable to vary the range.

of movement imparted to the feed dog, an

edge guide movable to positions respectively effective and non-effective for directing material to the stitching elements, and-means interposed between the edge guide andthe feed changing device whereby movement of the edge guide will eiiect adjustment of the feed changing device.

4. In a sewing .machine, in combination,

1,5csgessa feed mechanism: including. a 1 feed dog, a. feed changingndeviceassociated with the feed 51T16Gl1iLI1lSIl'1"El-I1Cl' ad ustable to vary the range oi movement imparted to' the feed dog,eeparatedevices for successivelyacting uponaned-geor superposed edges o-f:n1a-

.terial, means for establishing. successively the separate devices" in operative relation, and means interposed between the lastmenfeed mechanism includinga feed dog, a feed changing Y device associated with the feed mechanism and adjustable to vary tlle range ofimovement .imparted to' the :feeddog," a movable support, an edge. guide: adj ustably secured to the support, and means interposed between the feed changing device and the support: whereby movement of one of them :will effect adjustment of theother.v

7. In asewing-gmachine, in combination, feed mechanism includinga feed dog, a feed changing device associated with the deed mechanismand. adjustable to vary the range l ofmovement .impartedwto 'the feed dog, a device operable upon an edge or superposed edges ofmateriahand adjustable: to vary its relation to thestitching elements, means -in-- eluding a: springfor effecting. certaian adustment of the. feed changing. device, and

means associated with the device'for. operatmgnponanedge or superposed edges of the material for-effecting other adjustment of the feed changing device.

8. Ina-sewing machine, in combination, feed mechanism including a feed dog, a feed changing device associated with the feed mechanism and adjustable to vary the range, of movement imparted=tothe feed dog, device operable upon an-edge or superposed edges ofmaterial and adjustable to varyits relation-to the stitching-elements, spring actuated meansfor effecting"adjustment of the feed changingdevice, means for varying: the adjustment effected by thespring actuatedmeans, means associated-with the device for operating upon an edge or superposed edges ofthe material for also ei'i'ect ingadjustment ofthe feed changing device, and means for varying the adjustment thereby effected.

9: In a sewing machine, the combination with feed mechanism, a trimming device, and a guide for directing material tothe stitching elements, said trimming device and said guide being adapted to act successively on the material, of a movable support for the guide whereby the guide may be moved away from proximity to the stitching elements and the trimming device rendered cfiective, and a feed changing device associated With the feed mechanism and operable by movement of the support for the guide.

'10. In a sewing machine, the combination with feed mechanism, a trimming device, and a guide for directing material to the stitching elements, said trimming device and said guide being adapted to act successively on the material, of a feed changing device associated with the feed mechanism and adjustable to vary the range of move ment of the feed, a movable support for the guide whereby said guide may be moved away from proximity to the stitching elements and the trimming device rendered effective, means interposed between the movable support and the feed changing device for effecting adjustment of the latter, and means for defining limits of adjustment imparted to the feed changing device.

11. In an overseaming machine, the combination with feed mechanism, a trimming device, and a guide for directing material to the stitching elements, of means for successively establishing the trimming device and the guide in operative relation, and means associated with the last mentioned means and the feed mechanism whereby the effect of the latter may be varied.

JOSEPH M. MERROVV. 

